2009 Inductees

Geraldine Hensley

Miss Hensley served as a teacher and coach at Hendersonville High School for over 20 years. During this time she taught health, physical education, civics and was the first woman in the state of North Carolina to instruct driver’s education. In addition to her teaching duties, Ms. Hensley also served as head women’s basketball coach and sponsor of the varsity cheerleaders. Her dedication to her students resulted in inspiring all those who were lucky enough to sit in her classroom.

Hilliard Staton

Mr. Staton graduated from Hendersonville High School in 1948. During his high school career he served as President of the senior class, first editor of The Laureate, and was elected to "Who's Who in American High Schools". He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on a Navy ROTC scholarship, was commissioned in the United States Marine Corps and is a Korean War veteran. Following his military service he spent over 40 years in the financial services industry in the US and Europe and retired as a Senior Vice President of Merrill Lynch International and Regional Marketing Director of an investment counseling firm. Since retirement he has continued to serve in Law Enforcement and on the boards of various community organizations.

Grace Gaillard

Lifelong resident of Henderson County and graduate of Hendersonville High School, Grace Gaillard is known and loved by many. After graduating high school she worked at Cal’s Home and Auto Supply from 1955-1971. She began working for the Hendersonville City School System in 1971 where she was known as an activist for teachers. She retired from the Henderson County Public Schools in 1997. Miss Gaillard is an avid participant in our community and served 20 years on the Apple Festival Board. She is one of three people who has been asked to serve as a lifetime member of the Hendersonville High School Alumni Association. Her dedication to Hendersonville High School can still be seen on a daily basis on the campus of HHS.

C.E. Buster Livingston

C.E. Buster Livingston was a successful businessman in Hendersonville, North Carolina. He owned and operated the Union Bus Terminal and Patton Vending Company. Mr. Livingston served on the Hendersonville City School Board for 9 years and was instrumental in assisting with the integration of the school systems during the civil rights movement. His dedication to secure the best for Hendersonville High School enabled him to secure the funds to open Dietz Field and install the first outdoor lighting system in our area. He hired the high school’s first athletic director and helped the school to establish the first campus track in Western North Carolina.

Richard Waters

During his high school career at Hendersonville High School, Richard Waters began working at WHKP as a disc jockey. He created a 10:00 pm show known to local teenagers as “Starlight Serenade”. From then on his communication skills began a way of life for Mr. Waters. He continued to serve his school as the Public Service Announcer for the Bearcat Football Program. After a military tour in the army where he served as a broadcaster in both New York and Germany, Mr. Waters returned to Hendersonville and resumed his work with WHKP. From that time on he worked to keep the graduates of HHS informed and connected. Mr. Waters was a dedicated and respected member of the Bearcat Family.